Designers

Hans J. Wegner

Hans J. Wegner – Denmark 1914 – 2007

“Many foreigners have asked me how we made the Danish style. And I’ve answered that it…was rather a continuous process of purification, and for me of simplification, to cut down to the simplest possible elements of four legs, a seat and combined top rail and arm rest.”In 1950, Interiors magazine put Hans. J. Wegner’s Round Chair on the cover and called it “the most beautiful chair in the world.” Today they might have added “sexy” because the curves gracing it and so many of Wegner’s other chair designs are sensual to look at and sensual to sit in. But people shouldn’t forget that Wegner also designed tables and desks, whose straight lines and architectural symmetry made a perfect match for Wegner’s celebrated seating.Wegner was born in 1914 in Tønder, Denmark. Craftsmanship was in his blood. His father was a traditional cobbler, and as a boy Wegner apprenticed with a local carpenter, training as a cabinet maker.Wegner was 22 in 1936 when he attended the School of Arts and Crafts in Copenhagen. He then worked as an assistant to renowned designers Erik Møller and Arne Jacobsen. In 1943, he opened his own office in the Nazi-occupied city.The Second World War raged, making metal a rare commodity. It was only natural that wood remained Wegner’s material of choice. He favoured solid oak, beech, teak, ash and maple, but in the mid-60’s he also started working with laminated wood. Signature aspects of Wegner’s work are durability, functionality and, as we can see today, timelessness. His shapes and surfaces evoke a natural warmth and harmony of form, and celebrate both the possibilities and limitations of wood. Style, after all, is created by limitations.

Wegner’s reputation as one of the great emerging figures of the Danish Modern movement was sealed in 1951 when he was awarded the first Lunning Prize, which was instigated to promote Scandinavian design around the world. He received many awards, citations and accolades while he was alive, including the Grand Prix at the XI Milan Triennale in 1957. Two years later London’s Royal Society of Arts made him an Honorary Royal Designer for Industry.

Comments

Jan OConnell: Hard crowd to please...If he didn't use his name, would you still be making such hard comments?
He's been drawing for a long time and his major in college was architecture. So hobby, no...second career yes. He has excellent taste in furniture and the homes he's designed.
He's been into design since moving to LA and has spent most of his time in antique/vintage stores around the world.
He has taste, I personally love the dining and cocktail tables...are they a play on another design, maybe...as artists, we all take from other designs. It's human and it's how we evolve as artists to become better artists.View Post

Linda Fougerousse: I like the tables, however, I agree I've seen the spring table in several collections already. Not lovin the bed. There is a reason they're showing it undressed!View Post

iris fingerhut: having good taste does not mean you are a designer. we have seen so many celebs turn to design as a way of expanding their "brand". macy's star line-up has made this practice legit. the donald trump collection? please...
i find this furniture derivative on the whole and some things in particular, bad design. the bed, especially. that extension at the foot of the bed is a real knee slammer!. i guess being a wealthy,handsome, talented actor, father of 6, philanthropist is not quite enough to keep brad busy...
i find this whole trend a terrible one.
do what you do best, and leave it to designers to design.
if it weren't for the name recognition and celebrity, most of these "collections" would never see the light of day.View Post

Brooke Richards: Hey, if Brad Pitt wants to try his hand at something new, he should go for it. Why not, there will always be purists, nay-sayers & critic's.
The chair, in a sunny corner sitting with my back in the curve of the back & the arm, my legs thrown over the front of the opposite arm, feet dangling, reading a good book! By the way, see the resemblence to Batman's mask anyone?
The tub, yep clearly the man knows bathtime playtime. Enough said!
The side table, love it too. Looks like the physical expression of the motion of Samantha's wand on 'BeWitched'.
The bed, cool, angular metal, smooth wood curves, platform beds aren't for everyone.
Just give me the wild legged polished wood table/bench. What a lot of fun, the surprises in life, life does have it's crazy sharp turns......View Post